Death's Requiem

By: Ryu Niiyama

Chapter 9

Items in bold italics are remnants of memory.

Azrael nearly crashed through the walls of the seemingly benign home, grateful that she still had the wherewithal to maintain her invisibility. She groaned as the pulse of memory tugged at her, her long experience letting her know that this was an active crime scene. The police were still outside securing the perimeter, which meant that no one died here and yet… She staggered forward like a drunkard as memory seized her and her eyes alighted upon the front door.

He walked in through that door, his face shining with rare glee as he hauled in the chemicals he would need to make his paralytic. He'd not yet perfected his benign, gentle guy persona, but he would…and it would make things so much easier…

She tottered almost drunkenly in confusion, but not before memory slashed against her soul, leaving her raw and in pain. Clutching her head as her powers surged out of control, she could only let the memory consume her.

He'd met someone, finally, just like a normal guy. Was this what it was supposed to feel like? He wasn't sure… A potential voice to silence …but it was such a nice voice…such a soft voice. Perhaps he would try…and if not he could always silence the voice later. He pulled out the picture he'd taken before he approached her. His eyes were a little brighter, as he thought of the potential kill, and yet the softness of her words made him smile for he first time in years. "Ella Lopez…you'll do, perfectly…"

Her stomach churned as she realized whose memories she was seeing, yet they wouldn't stop, her touchstone still burning her where it touched her skin.

They stumbled inside, her hands were frantic over him and he tried to match her passion, but it was nice just having someone to touch. The other voices all flinched away when he touched them, but this voice…Ella, she leaned into his touch, wanted him around…focused on him. He led her to the bedroom and undressed her, he'd never felt like this before…wanting someone…wanting a voice to make noise for him…it was nice…she was nice…and then he was upon her , over her, within her…he might not silence this voice after all.

Peter Daily. Ella had been dating Peter Daily. Where was she? Was she safe? She didn't normally interfere but she hadn't heard the song of Ella's demise…she knew what that song sounded like and dreaded it every nanosecond of every day.

He knew he'd done too much…overplayed his hand when he gave her the key. He'd wanted to lead her around, sure, but he'd hoped that he could keep her…but she was too curious…too nosy. It was why he'd planned on silencing her in the first place…but now…now he'd have to waste her voice on an inelegant death…it wasn't fair. It was such a bummer…It-

She sagged with relief even as rage tugged at her. Ella was alive…she was alive! But he'd tried to kill her…he tried to take away her human. She knelt where he had pinned her and she could feel the remnants of Ella's fear…and it sparked the killing urge that her blade had kept in check for eons. She was Death, and Peter Daily would come to know her this day. She spread her wings and surged towards Ella, hoping that her attacker was still held in custody nearby.

She watched Ella confront him, and she felt her soul quake with yearning, but she couldn't go to her. Not with Mazikeen and Lucifer around. They would take care of Ella now…besides she wasn't what Ella needed. She only brought pain and misery and death…but for him that wouldn't be a bad thing. She waited until they left…she didn't need much time, and she made herself only visible to him. She let go of her control and she let the rage of what she could have lost, what she'd given up for him to only take that gift and throw it away. What was the point in leaving Ella if stains like this would take advantage of her, hurt her, try to kill her?! She waited until his placid eyes noticed her and then she removed the hood of her cloak, her multitude of eyes zeroing in on his insipid face. She couldn't kill him, but she would remind him that no deed went unnoticed by her…and no man was above judgement.

Maze arched an eyebrow at the report that Pete Daily had gone catatonic. Lucifer hadn't cared, as he was more concerned about having Chloe back and putting his foot up Michael's ass, but Maze had smelled death for a brief moment while they had been watching Ella go after Daily. She'd never met Azrael, but after Lucifer had casually mentioned that she knew Ella and yet Ella still acted like, well Ella, she knew something was wrong. She didn't like it when people hurt her friends, and the wielder of the angriest knife in existence had the potential to cause a lot of hurt.

Yet it didn't make sense…Azrael as far as she knew didn't torture humans or demons…she did her duty and kept them out of the Silver City if they weren't supposed to be there, but what did she have to do with Ella's shitbox boyfriend? Ella seemed healthy enough, she wasn't dying so what…Maze paused and smirked. Angels and humans went about everything all wrong. If Azrael wasn't here for the hunt, then she was here for her mate…or rather protecting her mate. But that would also mean that the Angel of Death did something, because angels don't share…at least not when feelings were involved. She'd have to help her silly humans and Celestials out…again. Yet they never noticed all the hard work she put in…it was annoying to say the least. Twirling her knives, Maze grabbed the bounty she needed to follow. As she read over it, she smirked, realizing that she could find the Angel of Death and get paid at the same time.

Win-Win.

But first she needed to make a quick stop…she needed to change clothes.

Maze was luckier than she thought as her bounty led her to a drug bust gone wrong. She wouldn't have much time, but she'd already made her collar and had knocked him out and tied him to a chair. Instead, she watched as one of his friends bled out, mildly annoyed that the others would get to break him, but more focused on the second that he died.

Azrael was nothing if not punctual.

She could only feel it for a moment, that feeling that the Celestials invoked in all Lilim…something close to awe and need and for Maze, a boiling hatred that she felt such yearning for their acceptance at all. It was her drive to carve out her own way, to refuse to need anyone after being abandoned and ignored that made her the mightiest of Lilith's Children. "I can't see you, but I know you are there. And you need to bring your little pixie ass out right now Azrael."

"Excuse you?"

Maze was proud that she didn't let out a scream as the Angel of Death appeared right behind her. Acting quickly, the demon leapt away, putting a respectable distance between the two of them and turning around to meet very annoyed but alluring kohl rimmed eyes. Most that knew Azrael thought of her as a goof or a dork but there was always something under the surface of her bright smiles and rambling, almost puckish nature. Something very, very dark. Azrael was the angel that the Lilim used to scare each other with stories of, growing up. Obviously, they'd gotten a few things wrong, as she wasn't ten feet tall, but as Maze looked into angry kohl rimmed eyes, she knew that most of the horror stories were true.

There was a rage within Azrael, one so great that the echo of it lingered upon her blade. Maze fought down the kick of arousal that almost made her forget why she wanted to see Azrael, but she thought about Ella, happy in a way the demon had never seen before one moment and dating a serial killer shitbox the next. And the only thing that had changed was Azrael obviously removed herself from Ella's life. Ella was Maze's friend…her tribe and thus under her protection…and no one, no one, not her King nor Goddess Herself hurt her friends.

"What did you do to Ellen?"

Azrael arched an eyebrow and looked at the angry demoness as if she were less than an insect. "That's none of your business, Mazikeen. Ella is not your concern."

Maze unsheathed her blades and twirled them slowly, smirking at the obviously agitated Celestial and sauntering a little closer. In reflex, Azrael unfurled her wings and the demon paused as she took in the six pairs of wings, impressed but determined not to show it.

"Ellen's mine, so I'm making it my business…"

There was a feeling of divine retribution that charged the air, as Azrael's temper began to spark from a smoldering ember into a righteous blaze. Azrael's scent changed, becoming indolent with deadly intent, not the sickly sweet smell of rotting flesh, but that moment right before the light left someone's eyes, her scent was rich and perfect in its deadliness. Maze felt a small kick of fear and no little arousal and she realized just how much Lucifer had always held back with her. Yet she had a mission to accomplish and she wasn't going to let a little angry Celestial ruin that. Azrael for her part looked deceptively calm, her wings moving in an almost serpentine fashion, flicking the air with languid lethality. Knowing that Ella had captured the heart of this being of Death's messenger herself, Maze couldn't help but feel a bit more respect for the babbly human. Azrael's eyes narrowed, the only real indicator that she was moments away from committing murder and the ambient temperature of the space around them lowered several degrees.

"Yours…Yours?! You can't even say her name correctly! I've known her since she was eight…you've what...got a few years under your belt?" Maze doubted that Azrael had even noticed that her voice raised half an octave in her fury.

Maze loved to fight, but her true talents lie in ferreting out exploitable weaknesses; it's what made torture so satisfying. And it was obvious that the Angel of Death had an Ella Lopez shaped weakness from a mile away. One thing she learned about angels is that they were possessive and arrogant, they thought they were above such things of course, but all of them had that flaw. Maze was certain they got it from their mother. It made them incredible warriors but absolutely shit protectors…and Mazikeen of the Lilim was a protector. Licking her lips and affecting a smug but obviously sexual mien, she looked the petite angel up and down and winked at her. "A few years? Baby, a few days were all I needed to get Ella under my belt, on her back, on her knees and any other way I wanted her."

Azrael twitched and her eyes dilated until they were nearly black, but other than that the Celestial didn't react. How precious, the angel wanted to respect Ella's life choices…even though it drove her up the wall. She'd been in love with Ella all these years and hadn't done anything? Some would commend Azrael's restraint, but to Maze it meant that the little Celestial was wound tighter than a spring. It wouldn't take much to make her snap. The demon also noted that Azrael had zeroed in on the shirt she was wearing…one of Ella's shirts that she may or may not have borrowed…for reasons.

Time to turn up the torture.

Maze inhaled deeply, and Azrael's eyes snapped to her breasts. Normally, she'd take that as an invitation, but she knew that the Angel of Death was less focused on her breasts and more on the fact that a shirt absolutely saturated with Ella's scent was covering said breasts.

"I do love this shirt, but it's so tight and hot…and when it gets wet-" The very loud snap, sounding much like thunder as Azrael's wings and their impressive wingspan stiffened in agitation, cut off Maze's words and the angel tensed slightly, prepared to fight.

"ENOUGH! What do you want Demon?"

Maze tried not to bristle at the disdain that all Celestials, even her King, had towards demons for being soulless humans. This wasn't about her, or even getting Azrael riled up, as delicious as it was. This was about Ella…protecting Ella.

"Nothing. Just want to tell you to stay away from my girl."

Maze had to commend Azrael because despite the rage that was spilling from the Celestial in torrents belied by her mostly calm mien, Maze was still breathing…for now.

"Again. Excuse you?"

"Again. My girl. Ella likes bad girls, and I'm a very bad girl. She's such a spitfire with that sweet, hot body and-"

Maze made an obscene gesture with her tongue and Azrael actually snarled in response. Like it sounded like she had trapped a tiger in her throat. For a moment, Maze was curious as to how she could do that. The angel pulled her claymore from her back and Maze arched an eyebrow in respect for the heft. According to Lucifer Azrael made the claymore herself from the core of a neutron star, out of boredom. Yet she was almost confused when the Angel of Death plunged the divine steel into the warehouse flooring.

"You're Lu's ex and lieutenant right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Okay. That means that I won't kill you then…"

Elsewhere, Ella threw up the contents of her stomach as bitter tears slid down her cheeks. She'd held it together confronting…him…and helping Lucifer find Decker, but now the weight of everything came crashing down. She'd been dating the original Whisper Killer, …She'd slept with him… and he had planned on killing her from the start. With a sob she pulled back and slid from her knees to sit on the dirty tiles of the bathroom. She couldn't stay here long, as another officer could walk in…but all she could wonder was…what was wrong with her? What kind of monster was she when assholes like Pete thought she was relationship material?

Why was it so impossible for her to find love?

And why did her heart still yearn for a ghost when she knew that nothing would come of it? Nothing except heartache and scorn…and yet…

"Nope, Ella you gotta deal with this." Quickly Ella rose and flushed the toilet, and scrubbed her hands before moving to her lab and pulling out her phone. "Hey, Linda…it's Ella…um do you have some open blocks for an appointment? I need to talk to you about something…"

Maze turned and spat out a mouthful of blood. There was no way she could return this shirt to Ella now…blood really didn't come out of whites like that. She slumped down to the warehouse flooring, a wheezing laugh escaping her throat. She winced as she did so however, mildly regretting the action as her body felt like one exposed nerve…that had been beat on by a very angry and somewhat sadistic angel. Azrael had essentially slapped her around, using palm strikes and open hand hits, mostly to her body where she could hide the bruises under her clothes. She could give the Celestial the benefit of the doubt, but she knew that Azrael hadn't done her any kindness. Every movement was agony and even with her fast healing she was going to need a bit to recover…yet the worst of it was how humiliating the beat down she'd been handed was. She hadn't landed a single blow…she, Mazikeen of the Lilim who'd given Lucifer and Amenadiel and a few of the other Celestials a run for their money and Azrael had the nerve to look, bored.

"So is there a reason you decided to take your life into your own hands, little demon?" The Angel of Death, sounded eerily calm and Maze had to admit, she was a little terrified and a lot turned on, but mostly she was still pissed on Ella's behalf. That and the fact that even her hair hurt were the only reasons that she didn't try to proposition Azrael at this point. The Angel of Death truly was a dark, little package of sunshine. But more like holding the literal sun in your arms, life giving sure, but instant death no matter what.

If only the little Angel weren't such a damn coward…or maybe like the rest of her idiot siblings she didn't understand humans…but Maze had gotten good at it…the emotions thing. She wasn't an expert, but even she knew brainwashing the woman you loved was a shit move. Armed with her particular brand of self-confidence, Maze struggled to her feet. Mildly proud to see a very small glint of respect appear in Azrael's eyes, she forced her hand to casually twirl a knife...even though all of her bones screamed in agony. She hated appearing weak, but she had to hold onto something or she was going to fall back on her ass, and she came here for a few reasons. Reasons enough that she could bear being a little humiliated by the Angel of Death. Besides, Demons and Angels were not as opposed as humans like to believe, now that Azrael was no longer batting her around, her Celestial aura was jumpstarting Maze's healing. After all, Hell was forged by God's hands just as Lilith had been; there was a reason that only a Celestial could rule Hell.

"Wuh…what did you do to Ella?"

Azrael's wings twitched. The only indicator that she'd heard and been bothered by Maze's question. Yet, Lucifer's ex or not, she wouldn't show the demon any weakness. Instead, she reached out and casually picked up her claymore, returning it to the sheath at her back…for a moment sorely missing her blade. She'd been as…restrained…as possible while she knocked Mazikeen around, but it was so easy to mete out death if she chose to, and without the blade to siphon her pain…well, she just hoped she hadn't done any permanent damage. Annoyed at the entire situation, from her still missing Blade, to the presumptuous demon before her, she huffed slightly and crossed her arms.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what…I know you where there when she went after her boyfriend…you know the serial killer that tried to kill her?"

The reminder of Peter Daily almost snapped her tenuous grip on her control. Azrael had to admit that she might have vented a little bit of the fact that she wasn't allowed to kill humans on the demon before her, but she wasn't going to let Lucifer's ex know that. She couldn't let anyone know how her hands still itched with the urge to break him and then end him. Or more importantly how she yearned to go to Ella to see if she was alright. If only she had her blade! But she couldn't do any of those things. She might be Falling, but damnit she would at least try to hold on to her duty. She couldn't afford to be any more selfish than she had been. Yet she could feel the pain manifesting, her fear and hatred and she was grateful that the flesh that was rebelling against her was beneath her robes…for now. She had to hurry this up, before the demon figured out what truly was wrong with her.

Yet Maze could see the weakness, she could scent it in the air and it made her furious. Why were they ALL like that? Second only to Goddess and God and yet these stupid angels always tied themselves up with their rules. And it wasn't even morality…most of the angels didn't actually care about humanity, content to ignore them unless their duty made them cross paths…but Azrael, if anyone should have known better, done better, it should have been the Angel that literally interacted with every human at the end. The self-important yet ultimately impotency of the Celestial Host infuriated her, because even with free will, they were content to trail after their daddy as if they weren't all billions of years old. Azrael was in love with Ella and she still hurt her because angels never wanted to bend that stick up their asses. It infuriated Maze to no end...even more so because she couldn't fix this. She couldn't make Azrael go back to where she belonged...by Ella's side and in Ella's arms.

"All that power and rage…and you are useless! If you can't protect her then what good are you?!"

The accusation reminded Azrael of another time she had been warned against failing to protect Ella...truly protecting her.

"Protect from yourself."

Gasping, Azrael staggered back…this demon knew how to care for and protect Ella…this demon that had only known her for a few short years. Shame made Azrael's wings droop slightly and she closed her eyes, fighting back tears. Everything she touched…she ruined. Loving Ella made her human and those around her question her sanity, and freeing her only left her open for monsters like Peter Daily to attack her. The demon was right…she was useless… Useless to Lucifer and useless to Ella. She'd even instigated the events that got Uriel and so many humans killed. Her blade had been the one way ticket that had cast her Mother into nothingness. And now there was talk of rumors of Father retiring…if Gabriel hadn't tried to invite her to His retirement party, she wouldn't have believed it. She knew what would happen next…war…pain…and she may have to tend to her siblings themselves. This couldn't keep happening…she couldn't keep losing everything…everyone she loved.

"You don't understand…" The words ended with a sob, and for one moment Maze felt a flicker of pity…but not enough to let Azrael go unpunished.

"I understand that you are running…from Ella…and yourself." The Angel of Death flinched as if the words had been physical blows and she staggered back briefly before rage torqued her muscles into rigid fury.

"I will NOT be lectured by a demon!"

Azrael moved forward, no longer willing to be gentle and she raised her hand, ready to strike down the demon…yet as she looked into eyes that only showed her disdain and defiance, she knew that couldn't do it. Mazikeen was right, after all. Looking away briefly as she felt her skin on her face quiver with her pain and she backed away, flaring her wings.

"I-I'm sorry. But I can't go back. I can't…"

With those words, the angel was gone and Maze slumped back to the floor. She would need an hour or two to heal, but she could return to her friends with them none the wiser. She didn't get the answers she sought, but it was obvious to her that Azrael didn't want to hurt Ella…which of course meant that unless she stayed away she would do something stupid, like try to fix things on her own. Maze couldn't corral Azrael like Lucifer or even Amenadiel, so perhaps…perhaps this was for the best.

Even if sucked for the one human that deserved better.

Azrael flew as fast as she could, trying to escape the memories that she's stolen from Ella, trying to outrun her own fear. Her wings spasmed as they carried her and for a moment she wondered if it would be possible for her to die if she fell from the sky. If Lucifer was any indication then no, but for one moment…she didn't want to feel…anything. For a wild, reckless moment she almost let her body slam into the walls of her safe house, but all it would do was cost her money to have the damage repaired so she banked her hasty flight, landing soundlessly in the courtyard. She'd brought Ella here once when the young human was very small, only to find out later that Ella had suppressed the memory, beginning to believe the whispers that she wasn't quite right.

Azrael hated how cruel…everyone could be, humans, angels…her parents. She had decided long ago that she would never be the one to dim the light in Ella's eyes…knowing firsthand how devastating that could be…yet despite her care, her attempts to carefully remove herself from Ella's life had done irreparable damage…again. She didn't know what to do and she felt so…lost…so…empty. Softly, the Angel of Death shook her head, banishing her thoughts. It was difficult enough to keep her flesh under control…no point in exacerbating the problem. Head down, the angel plodded the well-traveled grounds of her courtyard, entering the back door to her library. Perhaps a night of reading as her soul selves continued reaping would give her some measure of peace…

"You know, I never understood why you chose Alexandria as your base of operations for the past few centuries…but it really does have character. A little darkness, a little death but a great deal of hope…much like you, my child."

Azrael's head snapped up as she saw her Father standing in the foyer of her library, his natural grace lighting the room. The Angel of Death blinked in askance, struggling to pull herself back together so that her shame would not be revealed to Him even as confusion and awe lit her face. The Father of the Celestial Host was both parent and liege and Azrael always struggled to figure out how best to respond to Him. Suddenly weary, she settled for incredulousness as he smiled enigmatically at her, his hand holding out a donut with cereal pieces on it; Fruity Pebbles, the first donut she'd ever seen Ella eat, and thus had to try for herself all those years ago. He called out to her in a cajoling voice, almost as if he hadn't been silent for centuries…or that he hadn't cast her away from him, to endlessly cull the dead and guard the Gates to the Silver City.

"I brought your favorite…"

God's an asshole but he knows his kids. I head canon that his donut obsession comes from Azrael because she would totally be into cereal covered donuts. It's weird. I normally love writing angst but I'm impatient to get Azrael and Ella together…but since I want them to work out their issues and to loosely follow the show…yep its gonna be a slow burn. Perhaps I'll write a fluffy oneshot to tide me over.

R. Niiyama

7/2022